Nurse Nancy is PROUD to announce that we have a new sponsor on board for our effort to increase the number of spays and neuters in Denver. Vitamin Cottage has signed on to the campaign and is providing $10 gift cards for all Front Range Vitamin Cottages. This is great news as anyone using the Nurse Nancy Nurse’s Note will now receive $30 in rewards just for getting your pet spayed or neutered!
We’ve been getting some questions about using the note, so I just wanted to take a few moments to explain how it works. It’s really simple, actually. You just go to the website, http://www.nursenancypresents.com and download the note. You can print it directly from your desktop or print the entire page. Then all you do is go to the nearest participating spay or neuter clinic and present the note. After you register for a spay or neuter and once the procedure is done, you’ll get your $30 in rewards cards. It’s just that simple.

Of course, you’ll want to find a participating clinic near you and we have a listing of all of the high-quality-affordable clinics on the Nurse Nancy website. And of course we’re absolutely THRILLED that BeauJo’s, B-Cycle and Vitamin Cottage are behind this effort. Think about it, for simply taking a few hours to get your pet spayed or neutered, you can get a free pizza, or free beer, a free pitcher, free bike rides, free food or supplements, it’s your choice.

In the end, we really want this campaign to work, not just because it’s our job, but because it’s a passion and it makes a difference. The more spays and neuters we can drive to our clinics across the Front Range, the more lives we save in the long run. Our clinics already offer spays and neuters at the lowest prices around, but they care about stopping unwanted pet pregnancies and fighting pet overpopulation; which, by the way, will save millions in tax dollars.

So get out there and help spread the word! Download some Nurse Nancy Notes and hand them out to your friends, strangers, loved ones. That’s what Nurse Nancy will be doing. She’ll be at local Farmers’ Markets and summer events, so keep an eye out for her. And if you do see her, come on over and say hello, because every person counts in this fight and your support is very valuable. Besides, you know what they say, a Nurse’s Note a day keeps the kittens and puppies at bay!

There’s that old saying that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Now, I’ve never been a huge fan of apples. They’re tart, the skin gets stuck between my teeth and I can’t eat a whole one in a single sitting which makes me feel bad about wasting half an apple. And besides, I’ve always liked doctors, especially vets. They’re a big help in my fight against pet overpopulation. And me, being a Nurse and all, well, I’ve decided to take a page from the old “Doctor’s Handbook.”

The Doctor’s note has always had a good connotation to it. It helps get you out of gym class, it excuses you from a day of work, it comes in handy when your friends want you to help them move. But they really come in handy when there’s a real problem. It’s like a portable sign you can whip out and show everyone that says, “Look, I’m really sick, see, the doctor says so…so just let me rest and get better.”

Not long ago, it hit me, why not use a Doctor’s Note to do other good things, like, say, promote spay and neuter programs. Again, being a Nurse, I’m in a good position to understand the inner workings of the “Doctor’s Note” plus, I can actually issue notes myself. Within a day, the Nurse Nancy “Nurse’s Note” was born. I managed to round up some wonderful partners and now I present to you “THE NOTE”.

It’s a very simple concept, actually. You just print off the note from my website, or from the sites of any of the participating clinics in my spay and neuter network. They’re located from Fort Collins to South Denver and each one of them provides affordable, high-quality spays and neuters for cats or dogs. Of course you can find all of the clinics on my website, http://www.nursenancypresents.com. Anyway, you print off the note, take it into the participating clinic nearest you and make an appointment for a spay or neuter. Once the procedure is done, you will receive $20 in reward cards good for free bike rides from Denver B-Cycle or FREE BEER and pizza from BeauJo’s.

You might also notice some funky looking squares at the bottom of the note as well. These are codes that will take you to my website, my blog (right here!) and my Facebook page where you can friend me and help in the fight against pet overpopulation. If you have a smartphone, all you have to do is use your QR Code reader app (a free download), scan the square and you’ll be taken directly to one of my sites. Pretty easy, right? This can come in handy if you don’t have time or ability to print off the note, you can just scan the squares, find the image of the note and show it to the clinic of your choice. Ain’t technology wonderful?

And speaking of technology, I’m still in the middle of a heck of a mystery. I’m closer to finding the missing Muffy the kitty, but I still need your help. The first clue went up this week with the latest video release. You can watch the latest release right here, or check it out on my website or my YouTube page.

The next two videos will have the last two clues and instructions on how to help me solve the mystery. But here’s the best part. One lucky winner will get $100 in FREE GROCERIES! Yep, that’s right, a hundred buckaroos in free food. Just for watching the videos and helping me solve the mystery. If you can figure out which suspect cat-napped Muffy and where she’s being held, you’ll be eligible to win the big prize!

So help me get the word out, tell your friends and family. Get them to watch the video, use the Nurse’s Note, and spread the word about Nurse Nancy and our fight against pet overpopulation. I mean, spaying and neutering is simple, affordable and convenient. It’s only a quick trip to the vet and in the end, you get all this free stuff like food, beer and bike rides. Heck you might even end up with a hundred dollar gift certificate for free groceries. And that can buy a lot of apples!

There are times, I’ll admit, when even I sit back and think about the monumental task that we all face when fighting pet overpopulation. There are so many cats and dogs out there who aren’t fixed, who are RIGHT NOW, having more little cats and dogs that will grow up and…the circle continues. As I’ve mentioned before, this isn’t an invisible victimless problem. For those that care about the lives of these kittens and puppies, they know that there are millions of victims, living in the streets, starving, being captured and euthanized every year.

Astounding Numbers!

But as we all know, not everyone is as empathetic to the plight of these animals. I get that. With everything we all have to deal with every day in our own lives, sometimes it’s hard to make room to really care about the multitude of nameless, anonymous cats or dogs. That doesn’t make these folks heartless. These are the very same people who likely have pets of their own and lovingly care for them every day. It’s just a lot to ask of them to move spaying and neutering near the top of their priority list when they have a family to care for, bills to pay, a job to do.

You might fall into this category. If you do, I’m so happy you’re here. I’m not going to ask you to take time from your busy schedule to volunteer or care for a feral cat colony or anything crazy like that. But I DO need to pass along a few bits of information you should know:

1. Homeless pets costs you, personally, approximately $2,000 a year in tax dollars to capture, house, feed, process, adopt and euthanize.
2. Unfixed pets like to mark their territory. That means your clothes, your furniture and your carpet, ruining said clothes, carpet and furniture that has to be replaced. And I’m not even mentioning the smell that goes along with all this “marking”.
3. Unfixed pets are more territorial, often making them more aggressive and less obedient.
4. Unfixed pets are more likely to run away, particularly when they are in heat.
5. Unfixed pets are loud and sometimes uncontrollable when in heat.
6. Fixed pets lead healthier, longer lives.

So, there you have it. Pet overpopulation has a direct impact on you, in a lot of different ways. First and foremost, the cost to you both personally and in tax dollars is huge, and it’s growing every year as long as it goes unchecked.

Now imagine being on a date, or wanting to invite friends over for a party. If your pet isn’t fixed, it’s likely they’ve marked your house as their own, leaving a smell behind that’s VERY hard to get rid of. You don’t want to bring your date home after a great evening only to have him or her greeted by the smell of urine when they enter your home. Then there’s the issue of clothing. I once had a cat that loved to pee on my white shirts. I wore them for work, and I probably went through a dozen white shirts (at about $20 a pop) before I finally had my tabby fixed. Trust me, once a cat or dog pees on a shirt, or skirt or a jacket or pants, you can’t wear them again. Just toss them out and replace them, cause they’ll always smell a bit and that’s not good.

The point of this post isn’t to scare you…well, maybe it IS a little. Think of it as Nurse Nancy’s version of scared straight. The point of this post is to get across the fact that unfixed pets are everyone’s problem. Of course you can’t solve the whole problem alone. No one can. I’m just one nurse in the grand scheme of things, trying to do her part. The fact is, though you don’t have to volunteer to care for a homeless pet or monitor a feral cat colony to make a difference.

All you have to do is get your pet spayed or neutered. That’s it. That’s all you need to do, and suddenly you’ve made a huge contribution to the fight against pet overpopulation. Then, when you can, help spread the word to others about the importance of spaying and neutering. Forward a post from facebook. Retweet a post about spaying or neutering. Talk up your local clinic when you can. These are all things that you can do when it’s convenient and when you have a spare moment. It only takes a second to repost, retweet or say something about spaying and neutering.

Together we CAN make a difference. I work with ten clinics that have joined me in this fight. We’re out there every day battling, but every little bit helps. You don’t have to do much at all. Just get your pet fixed and then tell others when you can. Encourage them to get their pets spayed or neutered. If you can do that, then before you know it, we’ll start to see the number of homeless pets start to shrink. It won’t happen overnight, but as long as we don’t give up, as long as you do your part, no matter how small, we will begin to see progress. Your effort DOES matter, so don’t give up, help when you can and, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!

Here it is. You’ve been waiting for it, and now it’s here. A special “thank you” reward for simply getting your pet spayed or neutered. I know, spaying and neutering isn’t necessarily at the top of your “to-do” list. But it’s worth it to keep your pet happy and healthy, to save money in the long run, to not have to deal with the pee smell, the howling when they’re in heat, the high-strung nature of unfixed pets. Plus, the ten affordable, high-quality clinics in the Nurse Nancy network provide spays and neuters at prices you just can’t beat…anywhere.

And yet, I know that when the weather turns sunny and warm, you’d probably rather be outside in the park, hanging out in the mountains, spending time in the garden than schlepping down to a clinic to get your pet fixed. At least, until now. That’s because the note above is special. It’s not just a reminder that getting your pet spayed and neutered helps save lives of tens of thousands of cats and dogs along Colorado’s Front Range. The Nurse’s Note above signifies something more.

The Nurse Nancy “Nurse’s Note” means free pizza. It means a free pitcher of beer. It means a night out with friends at one of Colorado’s most popular pizza joints. It also means free bike rides through Denver. Tired of all the construction in downtown Denver? Sick of getting stuck in traffic when you’re just trying to make your way across town? Fed up with the new parking fees? The Nurse’s Note above can help ease your pain. Ride one of B-Cycle’s red bikes and get to your destination without any hassles. Enjoy the great weather, get a little exercise and go green all at the same time.

So the note isn’t JUST about spaying and neutering, it’s about being rewarded for doing something that ultimately makes Colorado a better place to live. It’s also a “thank you” for helping in the fight against pet overpopulation. Remember, spaying and neutering your pets is simple to do, quick, and affordable. Most spays and neuters take only a few minutes to do. You can get in and out in the time it takes to drop off your pet and grab a quick lunch. Plus, there’s nothing to it. All you have to do is present the note at one of the TEN participating clinics and they’ll do the rest. Once the procedure is done, they’ll give you $20 in gift cards to do with as you please. What could be better than that?

And of course, the cost is minimal. Each and every one of the clinics in the Nurse Nancy network provides spays and neuters at prices that are the lowest in Colorado. That’s because they are committed to fighting pet overpopulation. They understand how important it is and they want to make it as easy and cost-effective for you to get your pet fixed.

So take a quick break and go to http://www.nursenancypresents.com, or to any of the websites in the network and print off the note. Then take that note to one of the clinics and claim your reward. If you can’t print it off, just go to one of the clinics and tell them you need a Nurse’s Note for your pet. They’ll have one ready for you and take care of everything else. Then, when you’re done, take a bike ride, grab a pizza, indulge in a beer. It’s on us!

I know you’ve been waiting with baited breath, and here it is! Solving mysteries is tough work, you know? Bowser and I have been out pounding the pavement and looking for clues. It took a little while, but I’m proud to say that we’re getting closer to finding the missing Muffy the Cat! Bowser went out and rounded up the usual suspects and we did some heavy duty interrogations, and we’ve finally narrowed down our suspects to three. They are Mr. Cuddles, a notorious black market business-cat, Chilly Kitty, who runs the Kit Kat Club where Muffy was last seen and The Big Chief, a tough dog with a lifelong aversion to cats.

Check out the video and see what happened!

Of course, Bowser and I still need help in locating Muffy, and we could use your help! We’re going to be releasing some of the clues we’ve found along the way so you can help us in our investigation. So keep an eye out for those.

We’ll have the fourth video in the series in just two weeks, so help Nurse Nancy fight pet overpopulation and spread the word about spay and neuter! Share with your friends, find her on Facebook and of course Twitter: @nursenancysays and link to this blog! The more people we get involved in this effort, the more lives we can save.

As always, thank you so much for your continuing support and let’s keep the fight going!

Greetings boys and girls. I know, it’s been a little bit since I’ve had a chance to touch base with you all. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy out there fighting pet overpopulation, one cat and dog at a time. Actually, I’ve been busy getting ready to release the next few videos in my “Big Fix” series, so keep an eye out for that one coming this week. We’ll also be putting up clues for you all to start looking for. But more importantly, I’ve been pounding the pavement to find ways to say “thank you” for the effort you all have put in on this effort.

Well, I finally was able to get some partners locked into the campaign and I wanted to let you all know about it. First, let me say a couple of things. Each and every clinic that is involved with me on this campaign is a valued partner. They are all also affordable, high-quality clinics who are committed to reducing the number of homeless pets along the Front Range. But something strange has been happening lately, which inspired me to go out and find some motivation.
Let’s face it, spay and neuter isn’t a sexy issue. So many other things are happening in the world today, that it’s hard to grab the attention of folks who are likely more concerned about making sure they get their electric bill paid, put food on the table and focus on keeping their job. I get it. It’s tough out there. You pile other things like strife in the Middle East, U.S. soldiers in harm’s way, drought, war, starvation and natural disasters hitting various parts of the world, well, pet overpopulation is tough to get excited about for most folks.

Even when we point out that it costs Denver taxpayers over $100 per person to manage the pet overpopulation problem, the reaction was muted. We found that, for a lot of people, low prices for spay and neuters wasn’t enough to get them to get their pet into their local clinic for the procedure. Particularly with the younger folks, they simply have other priorities. Hey, again, I’ve been there. There was a day when all I really focused on was going out, having fun, working and, well, having fun. Spaying and neutering was lower on my priorities list.

Here’s the thing. We understand that sometimes it takes more than just a good price to motivate folks. Sometimes a simply thank you is motivation enough. For some, we could offer free spays and neuters and they still wouldn’t come in. So we wondered, “how do we reach these folks and motivate them to get their pets spayed or neutered?” Then it hit us. Free stuff!

We figured that if we combined the low prices with some really cool free stuff, it just might be enough to motivate people to get on into the clinics for spays and neuters. To that end, we are THRILLED to announce some free stuff we’d like to offer you for getting your pet spayed or neutered.

First up, we managed to lock in Denver B-Cycle as a partner in the Nurse Nancy campaign. For those of you not familiar with Denver B-Cycle, it’s a bike sharing program across the city of Denver. It’s a great program that allows anyone to “borrow” a bike for free with a membership. A yearly membership is $65, which comes out to about just over five dollars a month. With a membership, you’re able to check out a bike, and ride it for free for up to an hour, anywhere in the city. Check out their website for more details, www.denver.bcycle.com.

Denver B-Cycle has generously given us hundreds of discount cards to give away to anyone getting their pet spayed or neutered as part of the Nurse Nancy campaign. Plus, if you sign up for a B-Cycle membership, you’ll get a B-Card which will provide discounts to over 100 merchants in the metro area, including discounts at many of the clinics participating in the Nurse Nancy campaign. What a deal. Not only do you get $10 off a B-Cycle membership (that’s like two months FOR FREE!) but you’ll also get a discount on the spay and neuter itself.

But wait, there’s MORE!!

We have also partnered with BeauJo’s Pizza to offer $10 gift cards at any Colorado BeauJo’s location. Think about it. That’s like a couple of pitchers of beer, just for getting your pet fixed! Or you could use it on one of their famous “Colorado Style” pizzas. If you’ve never been to a BeauJo’s, you need to go. They have the best pizza in Colorado, just ask anyone who’s spent a few hours at the Idaho Springs location after a long day of skiing.

The process to get both cards is the same. You simply download the Nurse Nancy “Nurse’s Note” from our website, take it into one of my ten partner clinics and get your pet fixed. Once the procedure is done, you’ll get both the B-Cycle card as well as the BeauJo’s card. It’s like getting paid $20 for getting your pet fixed. Such a deal!

So that’s it. The reward deal starts on Monday, May 2nd, and will last until we’re out of cards. It’s simple and convenient, and it’s just Nurse Nancy’s way of saying Thank YOU for helping me in the fight against pet overpopulation. Make sure to follow me on Facebook, tell your friends about our effort and get people to join the fight. Remember, the more friends and followers, the more kittens and puppies we can save. You can also follow me on Twitter; @nursenancysays for the latest clues from our video series and updates on our reward cards. We’ll also keep you updated on the happenings at our clinics as well.

Friends, the search is on. Somewhere out there is Muffy, and I’m going to find her before she shows up with a litter of kittens in tow. For those of you who are new to this blog, I’m Nurse Nancy, and I fight pet overpopulation. This is the second video series for me, the first was a basic tutorial of how to use cat condoms and other types of pet birth control. It was very successful, but, as you might have guessed, not too many cats or dogs had the patience to sit through a series of pet sex-ed videos.

So I decided to get a little more aggressive in my efforts. I brought on a partner, Bowser, and I opened up my clinic for pet owners who have pets in trouble. Right now I’m on the trail of a missing cat, Muffy, as I mentioned before. Muffy isn’t fixed and as you know, an unfixed pet alone on the streets is in big danger of having unwanted kittens or puppies. Bowser and I are on the trail, though, and we’ll do everything we can to get Muffy back safe and sound….and then get her spayed!

This is the second part of the series. If you missed the first episode, you can view it below on this blog, or you can go to YouTube and find it under NurseNancyPresents. Pay attention to both videos, because very soon clues will be released across my network of clinics that will help you help me solve the “Mystery of the Missing Muffy.” Here’s episode II of, “The Big Fix!”

As I said before, watch for clues and help me solve the mystery and you can win some wonderful prizes. Check out my Facebook page for clues, and where you can find all the clues that will help you in this effort. You can also find clues on my Twitter page: @nursenancysays. Let others know about Nurse Nancy and the new webisodes and let’s fight pet overpopulation together. Help me spread the word about spaying and neutering. It’s simple, easy and affordable and it saves lives! And watch for the next chapter coming up in early April!